Contextualization of Children’s Drawings in the Perspective of Shape and Adaptation of Creation and the Model of Implementation on Learning Art at Elementary School

Abstract

The research focused on the contextual problem contained in children's drawing activity. The subjects of the research are the forms (themes, objects, media, and techniques) of drawings made by elementary school-aged children spread over four regencies of Yogyakarta Special Region. In addition, the research also discussed adaptation that influenced the selection of themes, objects, media, and techniques in the work. The study on form and adaptation were subsequently formulated into concepts that can be implemented in art education in elementary schools. The research implemented naturalistic inquiry approach with consideration of the social situation of children when drawing, which is the aspect of places, actors, and activities that interact synergistically. In addition, it also used qualitative method that is an interpretive approach that aims to gain an in-depth knowledge of a phenomenon that occurs at the time the research took place from various point of view of the known subject. The research found that objects drawn by children were drawn from direct and indirect experiences of mountains, beaches, planes, homes, trees, and humans. The themes that appear in children's drawing are themes that are sourced from their daily life (micro cultural) such as playing at a friend's house, fighting, taking a beach vacation, wildfire, and playing at the garden. This happens because of the various backgrounds of residential areas, preferences, television influences and electronic games. Based on these findings, the micro cultural concept becomes a part that should be prioritized in art education for elementary school students to maintain the child's individualism attitude and instill local cultural values.